BEIJING - U.S. billionaire George Soros’ criticism of Chinese President Xi Jinping was “meaningless”, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday, after the investor and philanthropist called Xi the world’s most “dangerous opponent” of open society.
Soros, who promotes liberal causes through his charities, said during a speech on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that China was the wealthiest, strongest and technologically most advanced authoritarian regime in the world.
“This makes Xi Jinping the most dangerous opponent of open societies,” Soros said.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, asked about the comments, said remarks by some individuals that “invert right and wrong” were “meaningless and not worth refuting”.
“We hope the relevant American can correct his attitude, not be shortsighted, and hold an objective, rational and correct opinion of China’s development,” Hua told reporters at a regular briefing.
Xi has presided over a crackdown on dissent since coming to power in 2012, with hundreds of rights lawyers and activists detained. Dozens have been jailed. Soros said Xi was wielding Chinese technology companies to develop artificial intelligence and a nascent social credit system that would allow China’s “one-party state to reign supreme”. (Reuters)